Responsible for the day to day operations of the Springfield Symphony; primarily for planning organizational and operational needs of the business, organizing the resources to carry out those needs, directing the activities of the administrative staff and volunteers in accomplishing those needs and controlling the use of fiscal and human resources to ensure that the mission statement of the organization is achieved at all times.
Jennifer Cotner-Jones joined the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in April 2019 as Executive Director. Jennifer comes to SSO with over 20 years of non-profit experience. Her passion for serving others has provided her with vast experiences ranging from development, event planning, volunteer recruitment, marketing, and donor relations. Jennifer’s love of music and community brought her to the Springfield Symphony. In her down time, Jennifer enjoys watching Sci-Fi movies, helping her daughter in scholastic hobbies and interests, and playing in her church’s bell choir.
Responsible for developing, managing, implementing and evaluating the overall fund raising programs of the Springfield Symphony. The development manager cultivates sponsorship partners, capital endowment, planned giving and fundraising event initiatives with benefits that help to build lasting relationships with individual and corporate donors providing a variety of gifts and in-kind partnerships to support the Symphony.
Tery O’Shell has joined the Springfield Symphony Orchestra as the Development Manager. Previously she held the position of Executive Director of Sculpture Walk Springfield and VP of Development at the Discovery Center. Originally from Alabama, Tery spent the majority of her career in Birmingham, Alabama. Professionally, she began her career in marketing and advertising with clients including the Birmingham Museum of Art and Opera Birmingham. Tery decided to make a commitment to the mission of nonprofits and has over 20 years experience as Director of Development for several organizations including the Birmingham International Center, the Birmingham Zoo and The Arc of Shelby County. She is a graduate of Leadership Shelby County and Leadership Springfield’s Access Class, as well Standard for Excellence training. She is currently a member of P.E.O. She is a lover of all forms of art and believes that “art connects people.” Tery and her husband, Mike, moved to Springfield in 2018 and are proud to call it home.
The responsibility of the Operations Manager includes all duties of the personnel manager and librarian, as well as to act as the liaison between management and the musicians through the hiring of substitute and extra musicians; through the coordination of auditions; through accurate record keeping and through the interpretation and communication of all personnel related activities.
Aleksis Zarins is a musician originally from Springfield, Missouri. He graduated from Parkview High School and moved to New York City to explore his passions in music and travel. After eight years of performing with various Broadway musical productions, he returned home to finish his college education at Missouri State University and share his love of music with the communities of Southwest Missouri. He is currently the operations manager at the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and performs with numerous artistic organizations in the Springfield/Branson area. In his free time, Aleksis loves to explore art in nature and is thankful to be in an area rich with such opportunities. He is devoted to his darling Amy and in pursuing a future full of music performance and education in the Springfield metro area.
Responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating marketing campaigns for orchestra and special events, and maximizing the visibility of the orchestra, consistent with SSO policies and long-range goals.
Kaitlyn Pack serves as the Marketing Manager for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, bringing a decade of arts administration and marketing experience to the role. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Kennesaw State University, where she also earned a certificate from the prestigious Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program. During her undergraduate studies, Kaitlyn gained early professional experience through a marketing internship with the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, where she conducted research and developed the framework and RFP for the organization’s website redesign. She also interned with The Georgia Ballet, later joining the organization full-time and serving for over eight years in progressive roles including Administrative Manager and Marketing & Box Office Manager. After a brief period outside the nonprofit arts sector, Kaitlyn returned to arts leadership as Operations Manager for the Springfield Ballet. In April 2023, she joined the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, where she now leads marketing strategy and audience engagement efforts.
